RACHEL WEISZ counts herself lucky to have close girlfriends because she would struggle with the trials of motherhood without the support of her female pals.

The Mummy star, who is engaged to director Darren Aronofsky, became a first-time mum to son Henry in 2006 and has found it difficult juggling her Hollywood career with raising a kid.

And she admits she would go mad if it weren’t for the support of a group of fellow mums.

She tells Redbook magazine, “I think one of the things that mothers aren’t allowed to talk about enough to one another is the times when you’re pulling your hair out at home with the kids. Those moments when everything is crashing in and you feel like you’re going to scream. It doesn’t make us less good or less human, just real.

“I think there is sometimes too much pressure on us to be perfect parents, to be empathetic and loving all the time. Every woman needs a good girlfriend to be able to turn to and say, ‘I just can’t deal with it all today.’ Because even though children are the most precious things in the world, they are also sent to test us. I think women are already stretched and pressured to be perfect, and it kind of drives me crazy.”

But the 39 year old maintains her life has improved since settling down, adding, “I find I can get a lot more done since I’ve had Henry. Suddenly, in 45 minutes, you can get twice as much done as you once did. I’ve become a lot more organised. And I’m a much happier person since I’ve had Henry, and much more balanced. I feel I have an ultimate purpose beyond anything else in my life.”